Important Notices For This Site
| Notice |
|---|
| Seasonal Road Closures on WMAsSeasonal roads on Wildlife Management Areas are being closed early where possible due to the persistent poor winter conditions. These roads will remain closed until their scheduled spring opening the first Saturday in April. The public is asked to please use caution and if possible, avoid utilizing WMA roads that are open all year during inclement winter weather and poor road conditions. |
Description
Elevation: 3808 ft.
Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Area offers 6400 acres of mixed deciduous woodlands, evergreen hemlock ravines, rhododendron thickets and grassy lakeside marsh. The 60-acre high-country lake is located at the head of the valley near the crest of Brumley Mountain and flows eastward into Brumley Creek. The elevation of this valley spans 2000 feet, with the highest point exceeding 4000 feet. The habitat diversity of this site makes it an excellent venue for nature enthusiasts in search of wildlife viewing opportunities. A hiking trail loops around the entire lake. In addition to typical eastern hardwood breeders such as black-and-white warbler and wood thrush, higher elevations provide habitat for veery, scarlet tanager, black-throated blue and Canada warblers. Large birds of prey can also be found within the park. At dawn and dusk, visitors should listen for great horned and barred owls. During the day, nesting broad-winged, and Cooper’s hawk may be seen. Ruffed grouse, wild turkey, and black bear also take residence within this management area. This area is a popular venue for anglers in search of smallmouth bass, rock bass, walleye, and bluegill. The shoreline, banked in reeds and grasses, can be covered with a variety of damselflies, such as fragile and Rambur’s forktails, and variable dancer. The grassy meadows are interspersed with wildflowers that attract butterflies such as clouded sulphur, eastern-tailed blue, and silver-spotted skipper.
Notes:
- To Access the Site: A Restore the Wild Membership, Virginia hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
- This site may be closed during certain times of year for hunting or land management. See seasonal access information on the Hidden Valley WMA website.
- If you are visiting this site during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange/pink for safety.
Wildlife Sightings
127 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Area:
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 2025 | 17 | Laura Aron |
| 22 Aug 2025 | 17 | Mike Evans |
| 22 Aug 2025 | 7 | Laura Aron |
| 22 Aug 2025 | 7 | Mike Evans |
| 8 Jun 2025 | 2 | Kelly Gilmer |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Restrooms
Accessibility Considerations
This location does not have a Birdability Site Review available at this time
Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces
Maps & Directions
From I-81 in Abingdon, take Exit #17 and travel north on US 58 ALT West/US 19 for 11.7 miles to Rt. 690/Hidden Valley Road. Turn right on Rt. 690/Hidden Valley Road and continue for 2.3 miles to the parking area on left.
Site Information
Access Requirements:
- Daily. Restore the Wild Membership, hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
Contact Information:
- (276) 783-4860
- Visit Website
Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.